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[Pete Elite]

I read this on AOLs news page and think someone should be jobless .


Boy and girl barred from Christmas party after death of their father
by ParentDish Dec 15th 2009

Categories: Latest news

A school has stopped two children going to an end-of-term Christmas disco after their father died.

The siblings could not take part due to the school's policy of 100% attendance needed for a child to be allowed to attend the party.

The boy, 5, and girl, 7, missed two days of school when their father died of throat cancer recently, and two more days the following week for his funeral. The children's mother, Samantha Watson, had warned the school of her husband's terminal illness.

Samantha commented that, "I don't see why they should be punished for taking just a few days off when he died. I phoned the school and tried to explain, but the admin assistant wouldn't listen."
The boy, Sean, was left confused when all the other children were taken to the school disco and allowed to play games, whilst he was left in the classroom.

The school in question, Ryecroft Primary School in Bradford, has now released a statement admitting that the decision was a "genuine mistake", and the children's mother had spoken to the "wrong person".

Ryecroft Primary School has improved its attendance record and climbed up the achievement tables in recent years due to new policies.

Do you think the children should have been refused entry to the party? Or should their circumstances have been taken into consideration?

[Squealey]

Sums up this jobs worth country to a tee doesn't it.

I can tell you if that was my kids school my wife would have been down there like a shot and kicked some arse!!!!!!

[Turk]

   Heartless 2hats. They have their stats...and that's that.
I bet the "genuine mistake" statement was only issued after they realised the had or were about to hit the news.

...and as for the "Do you think the children should have been refused entry to the party? Or should their circumstances have been taken into consideration?" 
I think someone at AOL should be looking for another job for asking such a stupid questiion.

[cam2502]

one thing to say  about that...but this being a family forum, i will just say.... !

[Gaffers]

Hang on, its a school mistake and they are trying to say its the mothee's fault for 'speaking to the wrong person'!!!

WTF!!!!

[HolyCount]

Another, and on this occassion, heartless example of blindly aiming at some meaningless target whilst forgetting you are dealing with human beings ( for the most part). Society as a whole is suffering so that some over paid and under worked Whitehall bureaucrat can tick his / her bl**dy boxes.

People that heartless and blind to the needs of the children shouldn't be working in a school in the first place.

[Richie London]

same old story. somebody breaks up so pass the buck and cover yer own ass

[The Red Baron]

Another, and on this occassion, heartless example of blindly aiming at some meaningless target whilst forgetting you are dealing with human beings ( for the most part). Society as a whole is suffering so that some over paid and under worked Whitehall bureaucrat can tick his / her bl**dy boxes.

People that heartless and blind to the needs of the children shouldn't be working in a school in the first place.

yep i agree, way out of order

[Chris_H]

Another, and on this occassion, heartless example of blindly aiming at some meaningless target whilst forgetting you are dealing with human beings ( for the most part). Society as a whole is suffering so that some over paid and under worked Whitehall bureaucrat can tick his / her bl**dy boxes.

People that heartless and blind to the needs of the children shouldn't be working in a school in the first place.

Quite right Holy.  There should have been an almighty explosion of anger within the school at the first whiff of this coming about.

[MickAP]

I heard about his yesterday, it was being discussed on Radio 2.
It's heartless........only interested in acheiving targets.

But reward the kids for attending school, I never got anything in my day!

Always remember when my son attended school never missed a day one term, all but for being late once due to having to visit the docs.........30 mins late.
He was told sorry you can't have a free ticket to go watch his favourite football team as a reward.
But others who had improved there attendance over previous terms (but still not 100%) had been given the reward.
What a load of 


Mick

[Chris_H]

Re. the above: Unfortunately the school attendance thing was getting out of hand with parents taking their kids on holiday during term time to avoid the school holiday prices (amongst other poor excuses).  Not the kids' fault AFAIK.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Another classic example of an incompitent jobsworth approach

There is no single failing and the mother is not at fault. The way I see it is:

1) The person who took the call is at fault as they should have consulted or refered it to somebody in the know

2) The teacher is at fault, they must have been aware of the circumstances and should have taken a judgement.

3) The headteacher needs a good kick, he/she is ultimately responsible for all involved.

I think public appologies and maybe a few heads should roll....but its the public sector so nowt will happen.

These people need reminding that THEY WORK FOR US!

[albitz]

Exactly. ..........there does seem to have been a concerted effort in recent years though to convince the general public that its actually the other way round.

[Chris_H]

Another classic example of an incompitent jobsworth approach

There is no single failing and the mother is not at fault. The way I see it is:

1) The person who took the call is at fault as they should have consulted or refered it to somebody in the know

2) The teacher is at fault, they must have been aware of the circumstances and should have taken a judgement.

3) The headteacher needs a good kick, he/she is ultimately responsible for all involved.

I think public appologies and maybe a few heads should roll....but its the public sector so nowt will happen.

These people need reminding that THEY WORK FOR US!

Ah yes!  The traditional approach!